I just heard if the passing of Ali-ollie Woodson
verry and talented and nice guy, I happen to catch
some of his magic moments, back stage
before a gig, Mitch Perry on guitar
Here is a little more info about him, he will be missed
Ollie Creggett[1] on September 12, 1951 in Detroit, Michigan, but was raised in Town Creek, Alabama.
[edit] Bill Pinkney's Original Drifters
Bill Pinkney started Woodson on the road at the age of 19, giving him a job as a musician and then vocalist for Bill Pinkney's Original Drifters in the early 1970s. He would return to lead The Original Drifters' gospel song "True Love" in 1996 on the CD Peace in the Valley (Malaco). Woodson always referred to Pinkney as his Father in the music business and Woodson sang Walk Around Heaven All Day at Pinkney's Homegoing service in July, 2007.
[edit] Tenure with The Temptations
He is notable for being lead singer of Motown act The Temptations from 1984 to 1986, and from 1988 to 1996. He began his tenure in the group on a high note when he co-wrote, co-produced, and sang lead/played keyboards on the 1984 Temptations single "Treat Her Like a Lady," which appeared on Woodson's first album with the group, Truly for You, and was a #2 hit on the U.S. R&B charts. His last Temptations album was 1995's For Lovers Only.
Woodson, who wasn't a member of The Temptations after 1996, toured with the band in Japan in 2002 when member Barrington "Bo" Henderson was unable to accompany the group due to visa problems.
[edit] Post-Temptations
Since leaving the group, Woodson began a solo career, and often toured with a Temptations-like revue called Ali-Ollie Woodson & the Emperors of Soul (Emperors of Soul being the name of the Temptations' 1994 box set). In 1997, he guest starred on an episode of The Jamie Foxx Show as a patient in a mental hospital. He also appeared in a handful of movies after that.
[edit] The Temptations Revue featuring Dennis Edwards
From 2006 to 2008, he was in The Temptations Revue featuring Dennis Edwards, although he and Edwards were never Temptations members at the same time. Upon leaving this group, Woodson was replaced by the relative of another legend from The Temptations: Paul Williams' son Paul Williams Jr., who is still currently performing with Edwards. Woodson also toured with Aretha Franklin in 2008.
[edit] Illness and Death
According to his testimony at a televised religious service, Woodson was first diagnosed with throat cancer during one of his tenures with The Temptations. Despite having the cancer removed, Woodson would again need to undergo surgery when the cancer returned two years later and another two years following that surgery[2].
In late 2008, Woodson was diagnosed with leukemia and hospitalized for several weeks.[3] Woodson died in southern California on May 30, 2010 after battling leukemia for nearly eighteen months.[4]
Woodson is survived by his wife, Juanita[1] and his two children with Juanita, Aj and Aliah Woodson[2].